Anna University has released the TANCET Exam Pattern 2026 for MBA, MCA, and M.Tech on its official website. The TANCET exam will be conducted in offline (OMR-based) mode with a duration of 2 hours.
The MBA/MCA papers will consist of 100 MCQs, and the exam for M.Tech (CEETA PG) will have 115 questions.
- The MBA exam consists of 5 sections: Business Situations, Reading Comprehension, Quantitative Aptitude, Data Sufficiency, and General English.
- The MCA exam has 4 sections: Quantitative Ability, Logical Reasoning, Computer Awareness, and Verbal Ability, each evaluating fundamental analytical abilities.
- M.Tech (CEETA PG) has 3 sections: Engineering Mathematics (20 Q), Basic Engineering & Sciences (35 Q), and Subject-Specific (60 Q).
As per the TANCET Marking scheme 2026 you will get +1 mark for every correct answer and -1/4 for incorrect answers. - Techi World
Related Links:
- TANCET Syllabus 2026: Section-Wise Topics and Weightage
- TANCET Question Paper: Download MBA, MCA Question Paper with Answer Key
- TANCET Preparation Tips 2026: Check Time Table, Toppers’ Strategy and Best Books
- What is the TANCET Exam Pattern?
- What is the structure of the TANCET exam?
- TANCET Exam Pattern 2026 (Subject-Wise)
3.1 TANCET Exam Pattern 2026 MBA
3.2 TANCET Exam Pattern 2026 MCA
3.3 TANCET Exam Pattern 2026 M.Tech (CEETA PG)
- TANCET 2026 Marking Scheme
- TANCET Previous Year Papers
- TANCET MBA Syllabus 2026
- TANCET 2026 MBA: Subject-Wise Weightage
- TANCET 2026 MCA: Subject-Wise Weightage
- TANCET Exam Pattern FAQs
What is the TANCET Exam Pattern?
The TANCET Exam Pattern explains the structure and the format of the TANCET question paper.
- It specifies the mode of the exam.
- It mentions the total number of questions asked in the exam.
- It defines the duration of the exam.
- It explains the marking scheme, including how marks are awarded or deducted.
The TANCET (Tamil Nadu Common Entrance Test) is conducted by the Anna University for admission to MBA, MCA, and M.E./M.Tech/M.Arch/M.Plan courses in Tamil Nadu.
What is the structure of the TANCET exam?
Check the table below to know the TANCET 2026 exam pattern for MBA and MCA courses:
| TANCET Exam Pattern | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam mode | Offline |
| Total questions | 100 |
| TANCET MBA sections | 5 (Business Situations, Reading Comprehension, Quantitative Ability, Data Sufficiency, and English Usage) |
| TANCET MCA sections | 4 (Quantitative Aptitude, Analytical Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, Computer Awareness ) |
| Section-wise question weightage (MBA) | 20 per section |
| Section-wise question weightage (MCA) | 25 per section |
| Duration of test | 2 hours |
| Marks per correct response | +1 mark |
| Negative marks | -1/4 for each incorrect response |
| Medium | English |
TANCET Exam Pattern 2026 (Subject-Wise)
The TANCET 2026 exam pattern shows a balanced aptitude testing and accuracy-driven performance across all three courses.
- For MBA, the paper will have 5 sections, each carrying 20% weightage, where each section is important and candidates cannot afford to ignore any area.
- The MCA exam follows a similar pattern as the MBA with more focus on technical readiness, with Computer Awareness accounting for 25% of the paper.
- In contrast, CEETA PG (M.Tech) is subject-heavy, with over 52% of the total marks (60 out of 115) coming from core discipline-specific questions, making in-depth subject mastery crucial for ranking well.
TANCET Exam Pattern 2026 MBA
| Sections | No. of Questions | Marks Per Question | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Situations | 20 | 1 | 20 |
| Reading Comprehension | 20 | 1 | 20 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 20 | 1 | 20 |
| Data Sufficiency | 20 | 1 | 20 |
| General English & Grammar | 20 | 1 | 20 |
| Total | 100 | 100 |
TANCET Exam Pattern 2026 MCA
| Sections | No. of Questions | Marks Per Question | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Ability | 25 | 1 | 25 |
| Logical Reasoning | 25 | 1 | 25 |
| Computer Awareness | 25 | 1 | 25 |
| Verbal Ability | 25 | 1 | 25 |
| Total | 100 | 100 |
TANCET Exam Pattern 2026 M.Tech (CEETA PG)
| Sections | No. of Questions | Marks Per Question | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engineering Mathematics | 20 | +1 | 20 |
| Basic Engineering & Sciences | 35 | +1 | 35 |
| Subject-Specific Questions | 60 | +1 | 60 |
| Total | 115 | 115 |
TANCET 2026 Marking Scheme
The TANCET MBA and MCA papers follow the same marking scheme pattern:
- Correct Answer: +1 mark awarded for every correct response.
- Wrong Answer: –0.25 mark (¼ mark) will be deducted for each incorrect response.
- Multiple Shading: If more than one option is shaded for a question on the OMR sheet, it is treated as wrong and 0.25 mark is applied.
- Unattempted Questions: No marks are awarded, and no marks are deducted for questions left unanswered.
Ques. What exactly is negative marking in TANCET? Is it -0.25 or -1/3?
Ans. In TANCET, the official negative marking is –1/4 mark for every incorrect answer, not –1/3. For each correct answer you will get +1 mark for a correct response, while 0.25 marks are deducted for a wrong answer.
Ques. Is TANCET MCA pattern different from MBA? What are the sections?
Ans. Yes, the TANCET MCA exam pattern is different from MBA, mainly in terms of section structure and focus areas, though both exams have 100 questions, 2-hour duration, and the same marking scheme.
Ques. Is solving previous years' papers enough to understand the pattern?
Ans. Solving previous years TANCET question papers is most important to get familiar with the TANCET Exam Pattern along with solving the mock tests.
Analysis of past papers shows that nearly 70–75% of question formats repeat in terms of structure (especially in Quantitative Aptitude, Data Sufficiency, and English Usage).
TANCET Previous Year Papers
TANCET last year's question papers are crucial to know exam trends, the difficulty of questions, and most asked topics. Practicing question papers enables effective time management, improvement in accuracy, and learning weak points before the exam.
| TANCET Paper | Question Paper |
|---|---|
| TANCET 2025 MBA Question Paper | Check Here |
| TANCET 2024 MBA Question Paper | Check Here |
| TANCET 2024 MCA Question Paper | Check Here |
| TANCET 2023 MBA Question Paper | Check Here |
| TANCET 2023 MCA Question Paper | Check Here |
| TANCET 2022 MBA Question Paper | Check Here |
| TANCET 2022 MCA Question Paper | Check Here |
TANCET MBA Syllabus 2026
Anna University has also released the TANCET Syllabus 2026 on its official website for MBA/MCA and M.Tech in the form of PDF.
TANCET 2026 MBA: Subject-Wise Weightage
The TANCET 2026 MBA subject-wise weightage provides a well-balanced aptitude-focused paper.
- Business Analysis, Reading Comprehension, and Quantitative Ability dominate the paper with 65–70% combined weightage, making them the most important sections.
- Data Sufficiency (15–20%) tests logical thinking and can be scoring with the right approach.
- English Usage (10–15%) has lower weightage but offers easy scoring through accuracy.
| Section | Approx. Weightage | Key Focus Areas |
|---|---|---|
| Business Analysis / Business Situations | ~20–25% | DI sets, case studies, business reasoning, tables/charts interpretation |
| Reading Comprehension | ~20–25% | Long passages, inference, vocab, summary & tone questions |
| Quantitative Ability | ~20–25% | Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, number systems, basic algebra |
| Data Sufficiency / Data Interpretation | ~15–20% | Reasoning with data sets, charts, tables, interpretation logic |
| English Usage / Verbal Ability | ~10–15% | Grammar, vocabulary, sentence correction & usage |
TANCET 2026 MCA: Subject-Wise Weightage
The MCA paper focuses more on analytical and technical aptitude suited for computer applications and problem-solving:
- Quantitative Ability carries the highest weightage of 30-35% making mathematics the most important section for scoring well.
- Logical Reasoning is around 20–25%, tests analytical thinking through patterns, series, and deductions.
- Computer Awareness (20–25%) focuses on core computer science basics like OS, data structures, and algorithms.
- General English (15–20%) has lower weightage but offers easy marks through accuracy in grammar and vocabulary.
| Section | Approx. Weightage | Key Focus Areas |
|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Ability / Mathematics | ~30–35% | Statistics, probability, algebra, number systems |
| Logical / Analytical Reasoning | ~20–25% | Series, pattern logic, analogies, deductions |
| Computer Awareness | ~20–25% | Basics of CS, OS, data structures, algorithms |
| General English | ~15–20% | Grammar rules, vocabulary, comprehension |
Ques. How tough is the Reading Comprehension/English section in TANCET MBA?
Ans. The Reading Comprehnesion and English section in the TANCET MBA is considered easy to moderate as per the previous years exam, with consistent reading practice and basic grammar revision, this section can be a high-scoring area in TANCET MBA.
- This sections tests the basic reading skills, grammar, and vocabulary, not advanced verbal reasoning.
- RC passages are usually short to medium and focus on factual understanding.
Ques. What are the most important topics in Quantitative Aptitude for TANCET?
Ans. The Quantitative Aptitude section in TANCET focuses on fundamental mathematics, with a strong emphasis on Arithmetic topics like:
- Percentages
- Profit and Loss
- Ratio and Proportion
- Time, Speed, and Distance
- Simple and Compound Interest
- Averages
- Basic Algebra (linear equations)
- Number System (LCM, HCF)
Past-year analysis indicates that Arithmetic alone contributes nearly 60–65% of Quant questions, while advanced topics like geometry and mensuration appear less frequently.
Ques. How important is Computer Awareness in TANCET MCA?
Ans. In the TANCET MCA the Computer Awarness is one of the most important section, as it tests the candidate’s basic computer skills as per the postgraduate program, which are only basic computer fundamentals such as:
- Operating Systems
- Data Structures
- Basics of Programming
- Computer Networks
- Database fundamentals
TANCET Exam Pattern FAQs
Ques. How difficult is the exam pattern compared to others?
Ans. The TANCET exam pattern is considered easier to moderate in comparison to the other national - level exam like CAT, XAT or CMAT.
- The TANCET focuses more on the basic concepts and applications, rather than complex or time-consuming problems.
- The number of questions are fixed at 100, with the balanced difficulty across sections.
Ques. Is the TANCET exam easy or tough?
Ans. The overall difficulty level of the TANCET exam is easy to moderate.
- Questions are concept-based and do not require advanced preparation.
- The exam is designed to test fundamental aptitude, not deep analytical skills.
- Candidates with basic maths, English, and reasoning preparation find the paper manageable.
Ques. Is there negative marking in TANCET exam?
Ans. Yes there is negative marking in TANCET exam of -¼ or -0.25 for every wrong answer you will mark in the TANCET exam.
Ques. Is the TANCET MBA pattern really 5 sections or 4 sections?
Ans. The TANCET MBA question paper officially consists of 5 sections.
Comments
Found 1 Comment
Students in their final year of graduation are eligible to register and take TANCET but they have to submit the pass certificate of their degree course at the time of the verification round of the admission process.